Desktop & Over the Top (OTT) Attribution

Overview

Branch supports server-to-server (S2S) measurement for desktop and all of the popular over-the-top (OTT) platforms.

This document outlines how to send sessions and conversion events. These are separate, because sessions are fundamentally different from conversion events. The response from a request to Branch to log a session may include deep link data. This can be used to deep link the user to content, including the “deferred deep linking” scenario where a user clicked a link, then installed the app and opened it.

We use Roku as the basis for this guide, but applies to other OTT solutions. We provide an example request (curl), then we discuss each parameter in the request. For specific parameters, we provide tables showing how to change the request based on the platform (e.g. Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Samsung Smart TV).

Prerequisites

App is setup in the Branch dashboard with default link redirects, your app.link domains, a URI scheme, Universal Links.
Make sure you have access to your API & Secret keys.
Complete the in-app setup steps.

Session Measurement

A session measurement request should be made to the /v1/open endpoint every time the app is opened. The response should be parsed and a few of the values should be used on subsequent requests (i.e. randomized_device_token, randomized_bundle_token).

Session Request Parameters

Parameter	Type	Definition
branch_key	String	Your branch key, provided upon the time of dashboard creation.
branch_secret	String	Your branch secret, provided upon the time of dashboard creation.
server_to_server	Boolean	Hard code this into the request as true.
app_version	String	Your app’s semantic version ID.
os	String	See platform specific key-value section.
os_version	String	OS semantic version ID.
retryNumber	Integer	Default to 0. If retrying a request, then set this to 1 (first retry) or 2 (second retry).
brand	String	Brand of device.
model	String	Model of device.
screen_height	Integer	Height of the screen.
screen_width	Integer	Width of the screen.
ad_tracking_enabled	Boolean	Ensure that this is passed so that Branch can utilize this flag.
advertising_ids	Map of String → String	Should include the appropriate key for the device, and then the value of that advertising ID. See [platform specific key-value section(#session-platform-specific-key-values).
launch_options		Roku ONLY Map of query params on the launch or input request, as well as other metadata that may be passed to the Roku app as part of these commands. Example: the following command is issued to your app: `curl -d '' 'http://192.168.0.1:8060/launch/dev?contentId=1234&mediaType=movie'`
randomized_device_token	String	On initial request (i.e. install), omit this key. Will be returned in the first response (e.g. "randomized_device_token": "123456789123456789"). Then send this up on subsequent requests.
server_to_server_identity	Boolean	Hard code this into the request as true. This generates the randomized_bundle_token for the s2s requests and returns in the response. This needs to be accompanied by identity below.
identity	String	Only works with the server_to_server_identity This is mapped and set as the developer_id when making the s2s call. Example - `"test_user_01”`
link_identifier	String	When a URI opens the app, check for a link_click_id query, and populate with that value (if missing, do not include in request) Ex. yourapp://open?link_click_id=823569794275788167

Session Platform-specific Key Values

mac_OS

os: mac_OS
id: MAC address (Media Access Control)
- example: "mac_address" : "88:66:5a:2f:81:fa"

WINDOWS

os: WINDOWS
advertising_ids: windows_advertising_id
- example: "windows_advertising_id": "ea31e5e0"
id: MAC address (Media Access Control)
- example: "mac_address" : "00:1A:C2:7B:00:47"

tv_OS

os: tv_OS
advertising_ids: idfa
- example: "idfa": "ea31e5e0-1aa5-4181-91d7-0b56524e0274"

ROKU

os: ROKU
advertising_ids: roku_rida
- example: "roku_rida": "ea31e5e0-1aa5-4181-91d7-0b56524e0274"

SAMSUNG

os: SAMSUNG
advertising_ids: samsung_ifa
- example: "samsung_ifa": "ea31e5e0-1aa5-4181-91d7-0b56524e0274"

os: LG
advertising_ids: lg_ifa
- example: "lg_ifa": "ea31e5e0-1aa5-4181-91d7-0b56524e0274"

PANASONIC

os: PANASONIC
advertising_ids: panasonic_ifa
- example: "panasonic_ifa": "ea31e5e0-1aa5-4181-91d7-0b56524e0274"

XBOX

os: XBOX
advertising_ids: xbox_msai
- example: "xbox_msai": "ea31e5e0-1aa5-4181-91d7-0b56524e0274"

Example Request

curl -d '{
  "branch_key": "key_live_YOUR_KEY_HERE",
  "app_version": "1.0.1",
  "os": "ROKU",
  "os_version": "10.0",
  "retryNumber": 0,
  "brand": "Roku",
  "model": "4200X",
  "sdk": "roku",
  "sdk_version": "1.0.0",
  "screen_height": 1334,
  "screen_width": 750,
  "ad_tracking_enabled": true,
  "advertising_ids": {
    "roku_rida": "00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000123"
  },
  "launch_options": {
    "contentID": "1234",
    "instant_on_run_mode": "foreground",
    "lastExitOrTerminationReason": "EXIT_UNKNOWN",
    "mediaType": "movie",
    "source": "external-control",
    "splashTime": "1500"
  },
  "randomized_device_token": "123456789123456789",
  "randomized_bundle_token": "987654321987654321"
}' "https://api2.branch.io/v1/open"

Example Response

{
  "data": "{\"+clicked_branch_link\":true,\"+is_first_session\":false,\"contentID\":\"1234\",\"mediaType\":\"movie\"}",
  "randomized_device_token": "123456789123456789",
  "randomized_bundle_token": "987654321987654321",
  "session_id": "685187705776489500"
}

NOTE: The deep link data is located inside the object data. It includes +clicked_branch_link: true as well as the link data.

Conversion Event Measurement

Conversion events include anything beyond sessions. They include signups, content views, purchases, and the like.

For Standard Events, please make requests to: /v2/event/standard

If you want to track an event not on this list, then you can track a Custom Event. These will not be nicely mapped to 3rd party event names, so this should be a fallback if there is no good Standard Event available.

📘
Branch Standard Events
For a full list of Branch Standard Events, please see this document.

For Custom Events, please make requests to: /v2/event/custom

Conversion Event Request Parameters

Parameter	Type	Definition
name	String	Should be a Standard Event name if using /v2/event/standard. Otherwise can be a custom event name (any string) if using /v2/event/custom.
customer_event_alias	String	Can be any string.
branch_key	String	Your branch key, provided upon the time of dashboard creation. REQUIRED
user_data.developer_identity	String	Your ID for a user.
user_data.app_version	String	Your app’s semantic version ID.
user_data.os	String	See platform specific key-value section.
user_data.os_version	String	OS semantic version ID.
user_data.brand	String	Brand of device.
user_data.model	String	Model of device.
user_data.screen_height	Integer	Height of the screen.
user_data.screen_width	Integer	Width of the screen.
user_data.environment	String	See platform specific key-value section.
user_data.limit_ad_tracking	Boolean	Ensure that this is passed so that Branch can utilize this flag. Inverse of /v1/open -> ad_tracking_enabled
user_data.advertising_ids	Map of String → string	Should include the appropriate key for the device, and then the value of that advertising ID. See platform specific key-value section.
user_data.randomized_device_token	String	On initial request (i.e. install), omit this key. Will be returned in the first response (e.g. "randomized_device_token": "123456789123456789"). Then send this up on subsequent requests.
event_data.transaction_id	String	Your ID for the event's transaction.
event_data.currency	String (enum)	ISO-4217 Currency Codes Only
event_data.revenue	Double / float	The revenue amount of said transaction.
retryNumber	Integer	Default to 0. If retrying a request, then set this to 1 (first retry) or 2 (second retry).

Conversion Event Platform-Specific Key Values

mac_OS

user_data.os: mac_OS
user_data.environment: DESKTOP_APP
id: MAC address (Media Access Control)
- example: "mac_address" : "88:66:5a:2f:81:fa"

WINDOWS

user_data.os: WINDOWS
user_data.environment: DESKTOP_APP
user_data.advertising_ids: windows_advertising_id
- example: "windows_advertising_id": "ea31e5e0-1aa5-4181-91d7-0b56524e0274"
id: MAC address (Media Access Control)
- example: "mac_address" : "00:1A:C2:7B:00:47"

ROKU

user_data.os: ROKU
user_data.environment: TV_APP
user_data.advertising_ids: roku_rida
- example: "roku_rida": "ea31e5e0-1aa5-4181-91d7-0b56524e0274"

SAMSUNG

user_data.os: SAMSUNG
user_data.environment: TV_APP
user_data.advertising_ids: samsung_ifa
- example: "samsung_ifa": "ea31e5e0-1aa5-4181-91d7-0b56524e0274"

user_data.os: LG
user_data.environment: TV_APP
user_data.advertising_ids: lg_ifa
- example: "lg_ifa": "ea31e5e0-1aa5-4181-91d7-0b56524e0274"

PANASONIC

user_data.os: PANASONIC
user_data.environment: TV_APP
user_data.advertising_ids: panasonic_ifa
- example: "panasonic_ifa": "ea31e5e0-1aa5-4181-91d7-0b56524e0274"

XBOX

user_data.os: XBOX
user_data.environment: TV_APP
user_data.advertising_ids: xbox_msai
- example: "xbox_msai": "ea31e5e0-1aa5-4181-91d7-0b56524e0274"

Sample Request

curl -d '{
  "name": "PURCHASE",
  "customer_event_alias": "purchase 5 tokens",
  "branch_key": "key_live_00000000000000",
  "user_data": {
    "developer_identity": "user123",
    "app_version": "1.0.1",
    "os": "ROKU",
    "os_version": "10.0",
    "brand": "Roku",
    "model": "4200X",
    "sdk": "roku",
    "sdk_version": "1.0.0",
    "screen_height": 1334,
    "screen_width": 750,
    "environment": "TV_APP",
    "limit_ad_tracking": false,
    "advertising_ids": {
      "roku_rida": "00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000123"
    },
    "randomized_device_token": "123456789123456789"
  },
  "event_data": {
    "transaction_id": "foobar",
    "currency": "USD",
    "revenue": 100
  },
  "retryNumber": 0
}' "https://api2.branch.io/v2/event/standard"

Example Response

You do not need to examine the response body. Simply look for a 200 HTTP status code. Non-2xx status codes indicate an error.

Overview

Prerequisites

Session Measurement

Session Request Parameters

Session Platform-specific Key Values

Example Request

Example Response

Conversion Event Measurement

📘Branch Standard Events

Conversion Event Request Parameters

Conversion Event Platform-Specific Key Values

Sample Request

Example Response

📘
Branch Standard Events